Hi everyone,
God has truly blessed me the last few days. I wanted to share a great story. As you know, I went on a church camp a few weeks ago. While I was there, I had developed relationships with many of the children . There was one little boy that was particularly special to me named Brandon. (I am spelling it the American way) He just became a Christian about 2 months ago and He is getting baptized in a few months. He helped me with my Portuguese and also with helping me find the books of the Bible. Brandon saw his dad die from a heart attack when he was only 5 years old. His family just had a flood in his house and their roof caved in. Through it all, his faith never wavers. He is truly an amazing, young boy. My language teacher, Silvia and I were invited into his house the other day. We got to speak to his mother for a little while and I began to share my testimony in Portuguese and she had been crying because of some of her life circumstances, so I gave her a tissue from my purse. This family does not have very much but it is evident that she loves her children. (Brandon has a little sister) She said that she would keep the tissue forever. She wrote my name and the date on this tissue. She wants to remember that day when Nova gave her a tissue and my visit to her house. I also got to share a brief gospel presentation. Also, she did not want my language teacher to see her house and she allowed Silvia and I into her house because I had a relationship with her son. Silvia had been trying for a long time to visit their family. I am glad God used me, so that their church can help this family.
Wow, what an emotional moment. Kleenex would pay me for a story like that.
Putting things into Perspective!
How thankful I am to have all I needed and ever wanted. Do we think of a tissue as being special? I didn't until yesterday. God can truly use anything for His Glory and for His Kingdom!
We must be ready for His leading! Paul says it so well in this verse: "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
Praise God the Father, the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
Amen!
Nova
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Giving Thanks beyond Measure!
Hi everyone,
The Lord has been so good to me this year. He gave me a second family to celebrate Thanksgiving with this year. We had many traditional American dishes such as green been casserole and pumpkin pie. Wow, they tasted especially good this year. I am thankful for such great friends. The Brazilians really liked the American dishes as well. I even got to play hide and go seek with some of the missionary children who were there. It was great fun!!
Lord, I cannot express my gratitude to You! You have given me everything I have and I boast because of YOU! I will tell and declare Your mighty works and wonders. How I am so unworthy to be in Your presence but yet You reached down to Me. Thank-you for revealing Yourself to Me. That I might see Your Son. Thank-you for Your salvation and Your Spirit living in me. Thank-you for YOUR GRACE! That I didn't deserve!!
Romans 15:16-18, it states: "to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed"
Psalm 26:7-8, it states:"That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders. O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells."
Praise Him! Forever in Your Service! Amen!
Nova
The Lord has been so good to me this year. He gave me a second family to celebrate Thanksgiving with this year. We had many traditional American dishes such as green been casserole and pumpkin pie. Wow, they tasted especially good this year. I am thankful for such great friends. The Brazilians really liked the American dishes as well. I even got to play hide and go seek with some of the missionary children who were there. It was great fun!!
Lord, I cannot express my gratitude to You! You have given me everything I have and I boast because of YOU! I will tell and declare Your mighty works and wonders. How I am so unworthy to be in Your presence but yet You reached down to Me. Thank-you for revealing Yourself to Me. That I might see Your Son. Thank-you for Your salvation and Your Spirit living in me. Thank-you for YOUR GRACE! That I didn't deserve!!
Romans 15:16-18, it states: "to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed"
Psalm 26:7-8, it states:"That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders. O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells."
Praise Him! Forever in Your Service! Amen!
Nova
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Pictures from My Acampamento and Video of a Church Service
I will post my video as soon as I get it. Look on the side and see a picture of me praying after I gave my testimony in Portuguese. I am posting a video of one of the church services too.
My friends are worshipping the LORD!
The beautiful lake!
The ducks on the lake!
This hut is where I had some delicious snacks!
People are cheering for their favorite soccer team!
This was our lover's lunch. It was a dedication to couples and also to the love of God!
Look at the beautiful scenery
Yes, I am wearing a soccer shirt. This was our soccer lunch.
My friend Jessica and her mom
Table decorations for the soccer lunch.
I love these children!
This is the hotel, where I stayed.
We had so much food!
One of our church services!This is our church service in Portuguese!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Faith like Potatoes
Hi everyone,
I hope everyone is good. Last week, I went to Bible study and we are studying the life of Paul in the Book of Acts. We spoke of the faith of Paul and the faith of the early Church. This study has been a real encouragement to me. Then we watched Faith like Potatoes. It was good to be reminded of simple truths of God's faithfulness and mercy. A recurring theme that God has taught me is total obedience and total reliance on Him. He is faithful even when I am not. I have also been doing a study through 1 Samuel-2 Kings for the last 40 days. Let's see...what did I learn...David was faithful and returned to the Lord after a season of sin...God choose to use His servant for the lineage of Christ. We must bathe everything in prayer and ask for prayers for his people. God carries out his justice and sometimes we need a good dose of reality and humbleness. Thank-you, O Lord, for your wisdom and your grace!
I will leave you with this from the Scriptures:
First, a prayer of Solomon:
I Kings 8:23-"He said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all your heart...v.30-Listen to the supplication of Your servant of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.'"
Second, a prayer from Elijah:
1 Kings 18:36-37- "At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O LORD, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Israel, today let it be known the You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, that this people may know You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.'"
Lastly, a prayer from Hezekiah:
2 Kings 19:15-19-"Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear, open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.'"
O LORD, I pray, that we will get rid of our idols and worship, YOU ALONE, so that the ALL NATIONS might see YOU! BREAK US!!!
Amen!
Your Servant,
Nova
I hope everyone is good. Last week, I went to Bible study and we are studying the life of Paul in the Book of Acts. We spoke of the faith of Paul and the faith of the early Church. This study has been a real encouragement to me. Then we watched Faith like Potatoes. It was good to be reminded of simple truths of God's faithfulness and mercy. A recurring theme that God has taught me is total obedience and total reliance on Him. He is faithful even when I am not. I have also been doing a study through 1 Samuel-2 Kings for the last 40 days. Let's see...what did I learn...David was faithful and returned to the Lord after a season of sin...God choose to use His servant for the lineage of Christ. We must bathe everything in prayer and ask for prayers for his people. God carries out his justice and sometimes we need a good dose of reality and humbleness. Thank-you, O Lord, for your wisdom and your grace!
I will leave you with this from the Scriptures:
First, a prayer of Solomon:
I Kings 8:23-"He said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all your heart...v.30-Listen to the supplication of Your servant of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.'"
Second, a prayer from Elijah:
1 Kings 18:36-37- "At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O LORD, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Israel, today let it be known the You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, that this people may know You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.'"
Lastly, a prayer from Hezekiah:
2 Kings 19:15-19-"Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear, open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.'"
O LORD, I pray, that we will get rid of our idols and worship, YOU ALONE, so that the ALL NATIONS might see YOU! BREAK US!!!
Amen!
Your Servant,
Nova
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Clothing Sizes and Update on My Campout
Hi Everyone,
The girl who is sending me the video is moving this week so I have not received the video yet or any pictures. I hope to get them soon.
I lost a few pounds since I have been here so I decided to buy a new pair of capris because my other ones were too big. I bought a size 40! Okay, I realize that is not the US sizing chart but it is still a shock when you have bought a much smaller size number your entire life. On the upside, I weigh 61 kilos. That makes a girl proud. It is crazy, how much girls pay attention to numbers, isn't it? God made me the right size just for me. Thank-you for making the person You want me to be and in Your image!
The girl who is sending me the video is moving this week so I have not received the video yet or any pictures. I hope to get them soon.
I lost a few pounds since I have been here so I decided to buy a new pair of capris because my other ones were too big. I bought a size 40! Okay, I realize that is not the US sizing chart but it is still a shock when you have bought a much smaller size number your entire life. On the upside, I weigh 61 kilos. That makes a girl proud. It is crazy, how much girls pay attention to numbers, isn't it? God made me the right size just for me. Thank-you for making the person You want me to be and in Your image!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Campout in Written Form
Hi everyone,
As you know, I went on a campout last weekend. It was great for my Portuguese and for relationship building. In the next few days, I am going to post a video of me telling my testimony in Portuguese to about 75 people. Also, I will post pictures of my campout. I spoke in Portuguese for about 10 minutes! Check out my blog in a few days!!! By the way, this video is very choppy at points so bear with me! I will translate what I said too for you. Also, I was able to share the gospel for the first time in Portuguese to one girl at the camp. I also had the opportunity to talk to several kids at the camp. Also, I will be helping a college-aged girl named Jessica with her English for the next few weeks until I leave for Belem in December. She will also be helping me with my Portuguese. It is not a formal class or anything but it will be fun to get to hang out with her.
Ate mais, (until later)
Nova
As you know, I went on a campout last weekend. It was great for my Portuguese and for relationship building. In the next few days, I am going to post a video of me telling my testimony in Portuguese to about 75 people. Also, I will post pictures of my campout. I spoke in Portuguese for about 10 minutes! Check out my blog in a few days!!! By the way, this video is very choppy at points so bear with me! I will translate what I said too for you. Also, I was able to share the gospel for the first time in Portuguese to one girl at the camp. I also had the opportunity to talk to several kids at the camp. Also, I will be helping a college-aged girl named Jessica with her English for the next few weeks until I leave for Belem in December. She will also be helping me with my Portuguese. It is not a formal class or anything but it will be fun to get to hang out with her.
Ate mais, (until later)
Nova
Thursday, October 29, 2009
New Country, New Language, New Hairstyle, and New Social Security Number
Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. As you know, I am in a new state of everything in my life. So why not change my hair and my Social Security Number as well. Okay, I did not change my social security number but I got the equivalent in Brazil. First, I got bangs for the first time since I was 12. My mom says that it is not really all that different but still it is a change. I will post pictures soon. My hair is short too. Linette, the hairdresser in Brazil teases me just as much as you do but in Portuguese!
Now...here is a crazy story!!
If you remember, I went to Federal Police a few weeks back to complete info to get a Social Security number (CPF number) for while I am in Brazil. Well, the federal police would not allow me to send my card to the missionary language school but they would only send it to my permanent address. Well, I live in a house that rents out rooms to boarders or mostly to university students. The homeowner must not know me as well as I thought because when my CPF number came in the mail. She didn't know who Nova was so she threw that letter in the trash!!! The Lord was watching out for me! The maid knew who I was and was going through the trash and found the letter. She opened because she saw my name on it and realized it was for me. She gave it to my roommate to give to me. I thanked her so much!!! One of the missionaries, the language director spoke to the homeowner and explained the situation to her. Thank-you, God for always putting someone in my path to protect me and for YOUR constant PROTECTION! I even got to speak to the homeowner some more today in Portuguese. You know my every need before I know I need it and sometimes even when I don't realize it. Praise the Lord! Amen!!!!
I hope you are well. As you know, I am in a new state of everything in my life. So why not change my hair and my Social Security Number as well. Okay, I did not change my social security number but I got the equivalent in Brazil. First, I got bangs for the first time since I was 12. My mom says that it is not really all that different but still it is a change. I will post pictures soon. My hair is short too. Linette, the hairdresser in Brazil teases me just as much as you do but in Portuguese!
Now...here is a crazy story!!
If you remember, I went to Federal Police a few weeks back to complete info to get a Social Security number (CPF number) for while I am in Brazil. Well, the federal police would not allow me to send my card to the missionary language school but they would only send it to my permanent address. Well, I live in a house that rents out rooms to boarders or mostly to university students. The homeowner must not know me as well as I thought because when my CPF number came in the mail. She didn't know who Nova was so she threw that letter in the trash!!! The Lord was watching out for me! The maid knew who I was and was going through the trash and found the letter. She opened because she saw my name on it and realized it was for me. She gave it to my roommate to give to me. I thanked her so much!!! One of the missionaries, the language director spoke to the homeowner and explained the situation to her. Thank-you, God for always putting someone in my path to protect me and for YOUR constant PROTECTION! I even got to speak to the homeowner some more today in Portuguese. You know my every need before I know I need it and sometimes even when I don't realize it. Praise the Lord! Amen!!!!
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